Electroresponsive device



Sept. 15, 1942.

A. STIMSO N 'ELECTRORESPONSIVE DEVICE Filed Feb. 18, 1941 Inventor:

Allen Gstimson, b wz'.

His tcorney. U

mess ah 15,1942 2,296,123

'um 'rso STATES PATENT OFFICE t I nsvica I Application rem-rim is, i941; SeflllNo. 319,514 I I strains. (oi. 175-345) My invention relates to electroresponsive flealong the line 2-2 of Fig. i; Fig. 8 is a simplified vices and particularly to electromagnetic relays circuit diagram of connections'showing how my for controlling the starting circuits-oi split phase relay may be connected to control the starting in energizing a split phase starting winding di irnection between the frame and armature of my insth start spe odandthen .re v. v thestiirtingwindingafterthemotorhii-scomeup Referring now to the drawing, andparticuto speed. Many relays have heretofore been pro- 10 larly toligs, l and ,2, I have shown my invenposed for controlling the starting circuit of such" tion in one form as applied to a relay comprising a motor in response toline current. suchrelays a base ll of suitable insulating material upon ordinarily pick up upon the initial high surge of which is mounted a magnetic frame ii, I! carry-q current through the running winding to close the ins an op rating cell It and a movable r atu cir uit of the startin winding, and ubsequently l5 II. The magnetic frame comprises a core ll of drop out to disconnect the starting winding w laminated magnetizabie material and a flat magthe line current diminishes to its running value. ne' m b r I! s cure to t core ll bvs t h e In order to obtain suitable operating characterisean shown as a b t As s w the frame ticsin these current-responsive relays, it has 9- H, I! is attached to the base II by means of a quently been necessary to design speci lm tc s bolt it and rivets l1. That end of the c-shaped providing an unusually high me of starting core II, I which lies adjacent one end Of the current. Furthermore. the usefulness of curarmature II is machined to provide a pole face rent relays is distinctly limited, since any given ll. while a cooperatin pole face II is arran ed hand, it will be apparent that if a voltage respo pole face II is of the same order of magnitude as sive relay can be designed to eflect the proper that of the pole face It. The turned-up form connection and'disconnection of the starting cirof the pole face it results in a larger cross-seccult, the principal disadvantage of the current tional area of the flux path across the air gap respon ve relay will be overcome. 1 between the pole faces and provides a smaller Accordingly, it is an object or m inv nti n t gradient of flux as the armature closes. These provide a voltage responsive relay suitable for conditions add to the stability of the armature in controlling the starting circuit of a split phase it energize position. The length of the air alternating current motor. gap with the armature in its energised position It is a further object of my invention to proshould be made as small as mechanical convenvide an electromagnetic relay suitably mponsive ience permits.

to the voltage appearing across the starting The we 0011 I is m t upon e re r winding oi a split phase, alternating current moleg of the c-shaped core II, it between the lower tor and rranged to control aid winding leg of the core and the magnetic member I! in Itis afurther object of my inventionto de 40 such a position as to set up a clrculating'flux an electromagnetic relay having a large iilerthrough the core II. the ma n m m ".t e entiai between the pick-up and drop-out v l s armature I4 and the air gap between the pole of its energizing current. faces I! and II. Flexible lead wires 2| and 2| A still further object of my invention is to pror from the energizing coil it are connected re p vide an electromagnetic starting relay for split tlvely to conducting terminals 2! and 26 mounted phase alternating current motors which has wide upon the b "I. In op r tion the flux s t up ap li ation to oto s of vari s ratings r by the coil ll exerts upon the armature ll a force Y which is simple, inexpensive to manufacture andn ng t minimiz the length of the air gapeconomical and efllcient to use. between the pole faces it and B.- As a result Further objects and advantages 0! my invenof the force the armature rotates about its pivot tion will be apparent from a consideration of the point in a clockwise direction to bring the lower following detailed specification taken in eonnechalf of the armature into a nearly vertical position with the accompanying drawing in which tion above the pole face ll. The radius of curva- Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a relay embodvihs ture through which the pole face It moves is my invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken large relative to the length of-the arc through which it moves, so that the pole face i9 moves in a line approximately perpendicular to the normal from the pole face l3, or approximately parallel to the surface of the pole face ll. Specifically, the pole face l9 moves through an arcuate path of relatively large radius, the tangent to one end of which is parallel to the pole face Hi.

In order to pivotally support the armature M, the portion l2 of the magnetic frame is provided with ears 21 and 23 notched at 29 and 39, respectively, as shown in detail at Fig. 4. The

notches 29 and 30, together with an edge 3i of v the frame member l2, form, in effect, alateral slot across the frame member l2 for receiving the lower end of the armature 14. The two end portions of the armature l4 are flat and substantially parallel, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, but are offset by an intermediate bent portion 32. As best shown at Fig. 4, the offset portion 32 of the armature is provided with abutments 33 and 34 adapted to seat upon the top of the ears 21 and 28, respectively; that is, the width of the armature below the abutments is slightly less than the distance between the bases of the notches 29 and 30 in the cars 21 and 28. Since the abutments 33 and 34 lie intermediate the ends of the offset section 32 of the armature, the edge 3| of the frame member l2 forming the rear side of the slots 29 and 30 is tapered or undercut as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. The forward edges of the notches 29 and 30 are tapered in a parallel direction as shown to fit the underside of the onset portion 32 of the armature.

Attached to the upper end of the armature by a bolt 35 is a cantilever spring 36 which carries at its lower end a movable contact 31. The cantilever spring 36 extends between the ears 21 and 26 of the frame l2 and has at its lower end a hooked portion 39 extending through an aperture 39 in the armature 14. By means of this construction the contact 31 is permitted to remain in engagement with a stationary contact 40 until the armature l4 ha completed a part of its operating movement. However, before the armature l4 takes up its final energized position it comes into engagement with the hooked portion 39 of the cantilever spring 36 and withdraws the movable contact 31 from its engagement with the fixed contact 40. Thefixed contact 40 is shown as an adjustably retractable screw mounted in a conducting terminal 45 attached to the base l0. By adjustment of the contact 40 the position of the movable contact 31 with reference to the deenergized position of the armature I4 may be adjusted as desired. In order to permit engagement of the contact 31 and 40 and to provide space for the operation of the armature I4, the insulating base I is longitudinalLv slotted at 46 as indicated at Fig. 2.

I order to latch the armature I4 in pivotal connection with the frame member l2, the cantilever spring 36 is provided with an ear 41 at each side of its center to latch with theears 21, 28 of the frame member. The ears 41 are each bent downwardly along the lower surface of the Fig. 4, and are provided with hooked end portions 41a which extend beyond the sides of the armature below the abutments 33 and 34. Thus the ears 41-loosely engage the cars 21 and 23 to latch the armature in position. To retain the ears 41 in bent position, the armature has a notch 48 at each side near the lower end of the offset portion 32, and the ends of the ears 41 extend through the notches 48.

Mounted upon the rear side of the upper end of the armature l4 and separated therefrom by a non-magnetic shim 49 I have shown a permanent magnet 56.

groove 50a across its face, and the magnetlmtion is such that the semicircular halves of the grooved face are of opposite polarity. The permanent magnet 50 may be'attached to the armature by means of the bolt 33 which also holds in place the cantilever spring 36. In Order to obtain --for the magnet an alloy comprising six to fifteen per cent aluminum, twelve to thirty per cent nickel, about five per cent copper if desired. and

the remainder of iron, such as described and claimed in Patent 1,947,274, issued February 13, 1934, to William E. Ruder and assigned to the same assignee as the present application or in Patent 1,968,569, issued July 31, 1934, to William E. Ruder and assigned to the same assignee as the present application.

In order to complete a magnetic circuit for the permanent magnet Ill and thereby releasably retain the armature I4 in its deenergized position, a magnetic keeper 6| is mounted upon a bracket 52 by means of a rivet 53 or other suitable fastening means. The bracket 62, which preferably is formed of non-magnetic material, may be adframe ll, l2 bymeana of the bolt l5 and an elongated aperture 34 in the bracket. In order to lock the bracket 62 against rotation about the bolt 15 the bracket is provided with a turned down ear 55 adapted to engage a slot 56 in the frame member I 2.

If desired, a non-magnetic shim may be fastened to the magnet 53 or to the keeper II to prevent direct contact between the magnet and the keeper. Such a shim will tend to eliminate variations in magnetic action arising from small particles of dirt on the face of the magnet or keeper.

The effect of the magnet 53 is to magnetically bias the armature 14 to its deenergized position unaffected by its position.

The armature pivot construction described ward to thereby maintain a minimum air gap between the pole faces. The weight of the armature and magnet naturally tends to so bias the armature. Furthermore, since the horizontal beveled edge of the frame member l2, a downwardly directed vertical component of force is weight of the magnet the latter to its lowermost position.

In Fig. 3 I have shown a diagram of circuit connections for a motor starting arrangement utilizing my circuit controller. In Fig. 3 the ciramma 1 3 risingarimningwlndlng ll anda' tartin ashasbeenparticularly ointedoutinthedewinding". Inordertodisplacethe'phasoposltailed description, the armature of m relayis tion of the current inthe windin 02 the starting winding. The starting winding clrpreferred embodiment of my invention b way cuit is completed through the normally closed of example, manyother modifi ations will occur contacts I'l. ll of the circuit controller ll. As to those skilled in the art and I, therefore, wish indicated, the energizing winding it of the conto have it understood that I intend by the aptroller is connected across the terminal of the pended claims to cover all such variations and starting winding it. In operation, the split modifications as fall within the true spirit and phase motor may be connected between line conscope of my invention. ductors Li and in by closing a manually or auto- What I claim as new and desire to secure by matically operated switch ll. It is well known letters Patent of the United States is: that the voltage across the terminals of the startis 1. In an electromagnetic relay, a substantially ing winding I will increase as the speed of the flat horizontally positioned frame member promotor increases. Therefore, the circuit convided with a slot having a bevelled edge, an artroller ll may be so adjusted that the armature mature movable between attracted and unatwill pick up to open the contacts l1. it at a speed tracted positions and comprising two substannear the synchronous speed of the motor. when tlally flat parallel end portions joined by an offthe contacts 31, 40 are opened, the starting windset portion, one of said end portions being adapt ing 82 is disconnected and the motor continues ed to extend through said slot, a p r y of to operate on its running winding alone. Upon abutments formed upon said armature interdisccnnection of the starting winding the voltmediate the ends of said offset portion and arage appearing across this winding experiences a as r ed to seat upon said frame member at the sudden decrease due to the fact that the external ends of said slot thereby to bring said bevelled energisation is removed. However, by-induction ed e and said offset portion into juxtaposition, from the running winding a considerable volt- 881d oilset portion and said bevelled edge being age remains across the terminals of the starting so pos d th t their surfaces are substantially windin As has been previously pointed out, my so parallel whensaid armature is in said attracted circuit controller is so designed that this diminposition, latch g means attached to said armaished voltage is sufficient to maintain the oont andextending 0 8 the suriace of said troller in its energind position with the con- Outlet p r n t en age said frame adjacent the M pa M. ends 01 81013 Mb! to retain it! abut The wide differential between the pick-up and in seating en agement with said frame the drop-out voltages of my electromagnetic cirmember. and mean! f r e erti a horizontal cult controller is due largely to the restrainin force upon said arm i above said o s t p rinfluence of the permanent magnet ll. In order forc s d portion into ngagement with for the relay to pick up the seal between the mag- 41 bevelled e g wher by a downwardly directnet Ill and its keeper I must be broken. It will 4 01! Vertical c mpon nt of force is exerted upon be evident that the relay may be so designed that said armature to bias it to its lowermost positheairgapiluxrequiledtobreakthissealis ti considerably reat than th n required t 2. In an electromagnetic relay, a substantially maintain the relay in its picked up position. flat horisontally positioned frame member pro- For example, the pick-up voltage may be nearly a "dell with m an undercut bevelled three times the value of the drop-out voltage. e an armatur comprisin two substantially Specifically, in one sample of my relay which has flat parallel end portions Joined by an angularly been built and tested it was found that the armapositibned oilset portion. abutments formed at ture will pick up upon the appli ation r about opposite sides of said'armature intermediate the 140 volts to the energizing coil and will not dro 0 ends of said offset portion and arranged to seat out until the voltage has been dimini hed to apl p th top of sa d frame member at the ends proximately volts. I of said slot. the anglilarity of said oflset' portion .By way of summary a few or the many adand of said bevelled edge bein ap r ximat vantages of my improved relay may advantathe same, biasing means exerting a substantially geously be considered. Due to the fact that my a hcrllcntal force up n the upper end of said arrelay operates in res onse to voltage rather than ur in a dire ion to bring said offset portion in respons to a high surge of starting current it into engagement with said undercut bevelled is possible to utilize normally closed contacts in edge. and latchin mean attach to said armathe starting winding circuit. "The use of norture and engaging said frame member to mainmally closed'contacts in the starting circuit is taln the engagement between said abutments advantageous in that it avoids the necessity for and the top of said frame member, said latching closing a circuit upona high surge of starting mes-n8 pr g p ural ty of hookedears excurrent.v Furthermore, as has been previously tending along the s a of said oflset P r mentioned, it is not necessary in utilizing my ir'nand engaging said frame in' her dj cent t proved relaytosodesignthe motorastoprovide ends of said slot. 1 an abnormally high tarting current to operate 3. In an electromagnetic relay, a flat horiaonthe starting relay. The use of a voltage respon-' tally positioned frame member provided with a slve operating winding also results in simplincalateral slot having an undercut bevelled edge. an tion and standardisation of the design of startarmature comprising two substantially parallel ingrelaystobeusedineonnectionwithseve'ral flat end p r n lolned y an angularly posimotors of different current capacities. A gi n tioned offset intermediate portion, undercut relay of my design may be used in onnection abutments formed at opposite sides of said armawith any motor operating upon the voltage for ture intermediate the ends'of said offset portion vnohtherelayisdesimregardlessofthe andarrang pivotall'ytoengagethetopofsaid horsepower output of the mo rurthermore. frame member at the ends of said slot, said arattached to the upper portion of said armature 5 engaging said upper horizontal leg to maintain and extending downwardly in parallel relation the engagement between said abutment and the to the lower portion of the armature,- said spring top of said upper horizontal leg, said latching strip being provided with a pair of ears turned means comprising a plurality of hooked ears exdown' along the surface of said oifset portion of tending along the surface of said oiiset portion said armature adjacent said abutments, said ears and engaging said upper horizontal leg adjacent being provided with hooked end portions extendthe ends of said slot.

ing laterally beyond said armature below said 5. In an electromagnet relay, a substantially abutments and arranged to engage the underside C-shaped core having upper and lower horizontal by engagement of said oiiset portion with said mediate the ends of said offset portion and arundercut bevelled edge. e ranged to seat upon the top of said upper hori- 4. In an electromagnetic relay, a substantially zontal leg at the ends of said slot thereby piv- C-shaped core having upper and lower horizonotally to support said armature for lateral movetially flat end parallel portions joined by an antion, a permanent magnet mounted upon said gularly disposed oflset portion, the angularity of armature above said otl'set portion to counter- ,said ofiset portion and of said bevelled edge bebalance said armature, a keeper of magnetizable ing approximately the same, one of said end pormaterial positioned adjacent said permanent and to provide at its lower edge a second pole face 40 pendent of said armature, said magnet biasing said minimum air gap position, biasing means prising a plurality of hooked ears extending oiIset portion into engagement with said beveled ALLEN G. STIMSON. 

